What does "My Father is always at His work" teach about God's nature? Setting of the verse “Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.’” (John 5:17) • Spoken in Jerusalem after Jesus healed the paralyzed man at Bethesda on the Sabbath (John 5:1-16). • Jesus responds to Jewish leaders who object to His Sabbath healing, revealing divine activity that never ceases. God’s continuous activity • God does not “clock out.” He is perpetually active, even on the Sabbath, upholding all things (Psalm 121:4). • Creation’s rhythms—sunrise, seasons, breath itself—testify that His sustaining hand never pauses (Genesis 8:22). • Jesus mirrors this divine constancy: “I too am working,” uniting His mission with the Father’s. God as sustainer of creation • Colossians 1:17: “In Him all things hold together.” • Hebrews 1:3: “He upholds all things by His powerful word.” • The universe remains orderly because God’s sustaining work is moment-by-moment, not merely a past act. God’s ongoing redemptive work • Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” • John 6:44: The Father actively draws people to the Son. • Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it.” • Redemption is not a one-time transaction; it is a present, unfolding work orchestrated by God. God’s personal involvement with humanity • Psalm 139:1-3: He searches, knows, discerns every thought and path. • Matthew 10:30: “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” • His ceaseless work includes guiding, correcting, comforting, and providing for each believer. Implications for believers • Confidence in prayer—God is never “offline” (Jeremiah 33:3). • Assurance in trials—He is actively weaving all things for good (Romans 8:28). • Motivation for faithful service—since the Father is working, our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Rest for the soul—Sabbath truth points to trusting His ongoing work rather than striving in our own strength (Hebrews 4:9-11). “My Father is always at His work” reveals a God who is tirelessly sustaining, redeeming, and personally involved, inviting us to live each moment in the security of His never-ending activity. |
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